The effect of electronic cigarettes on dental enamel color

Objective The use of electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) has recently increased as an alternative to conventional smoking tobacco products. The literature is scarce on the effects of ECIGs on dental and oral structures. Therefore, the objective of this study was to observe whether ECIG aerosol could alter the color of dental enamel. Materials and methods Sixty‐three bovine enamel specimens were randomly separated into groups (n = 7) and treated with aerosols with different e‐liquid flavors (neutral, menthol, and tobacco) and nicotine content (0, 12, and 18 mg). The initial color assessment was performed using a spectrophotometer (Easy Shade—Vita). Dental enamel was exposed to 20 cycles of ECIG aerosol in a smoking machine, and the final color was measured. The color change was evaluated using ΔEab, ΔE00, and Whiteness Index (WID) formulae. Differences in L* a* b* coordinates were calculated, and data were analyzed (two‐way ANOVA, uncorrected Fisher's LSD post hoc test, α = 0.05). Results Luminosity (ΔL) was reduced by aerosols with almost all levels of nicotine content and neutral and menthol flavors. Flavored e‐liquids caused more color change (P